The eradication of poverty must be Humza Yousaf’s first priority on becoming First Minister campaign groups have said.

Mr Yousaf, who represents Glasgow Pollok, which has high levels of deprivation, has been told that creating a fairer society must be top of his to-do list.

A recent report showed that child poverty has not reduced in the years the SNP has been in government under Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon.

Yousaf will succeed Nicola Sturgeon as first minister after being elected SNP leader

One in four children still lives in poverty and in the most deprived parts of Glasgow, it is even higher.

In Mr Yousaf’s Pollok constituency, covering most of southwest Glasgow, there are high levels of poverty in the most deprived communities.

In the Greater Pollok ward, which makes up part of his constituency, there are estimated to be more than 2000 children in poverty equalling 28%

Peter Kelly, Poverty Alliance director, said: “During his campaign, Humza Yousaf told Poverty Alliance members that action on poverty and inequality should be the defining mission of his leadership.

“We agree, and we look forward to working with our new first minister so that together we can build a better Scotland, where the injustice of poverty is a thing of the past.” 

Meanwhile, one of the UK’s leading anti-poverty charities said he must make good on his statements made during the campaign.

Chris Birt, Associate Director for Scotland of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, said: “Humza Yousaf’s election represents a historic moment in a changing Scotland and it has been encouraging to hear him commit to driving down poverty in Scotland.

“As a former Health Secretary, we won’t have to impress upon him the living torment so many families experience and the impacts that have on both individuals and the services they rely on.

“As just one example, our own research found four in five parents with babies saw a decline in their mental health due to the cost of living crisis.

“With the leadership contest over, it is time to rise to the challenge of creating a fairer Scotland that we all need and want.

“His commitment to increasing the Scottish Child Payment is welcome and will help towards meeting the child poverty targets and we look forward to working with him to creating lasting change that delivers a Scotland free from poverty."

Glasgow MSP Pam Duncan-Glancy, Labour’s social security spokesperson said Mr Yousaf needs to take “bold action”.

She said: "There is no doubt that this is a historical moment for Scotland as we see the first person from an ethnic minority background about to become the First Minister of Scotland.

"At the top of his to-do list must be ending the misery of poverty that faces far too many people, particularly here in Glasgow.

"It will take bold, courageous and decisive action and I hope he is ready to deliver that - my constituents deserve nothing less."